Multipurpose costume accessory



Jan. 29, 1957 R. J. KLIMKIEWICZ 2,779,523

MULTIPURPOSE COSTUME ACCESSORY Filed Dec. 21, 1953 m'chakd J. Kl/m/r/ew/cz 1 N V EN TOR. 40%

United States Patent MULTIPURPOSE COSTUME ACCESSORY Richard I. Klimkiewicz, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor of fifty percent to George Barwidi, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,470 3 Claims. (Cl. 224-28) The present invention relates to so-called costume jewelry, generally speaking, and has more particular reference to a convertible or multipurpose accessory whose primary purpose is to safely attach a purse or handbag to the users wrist as a guard against displacement and which, in addition, may be aptly worn as a bracelet for personal adornment.

Briefly summarized, the preferred embodiment of the invention is constructed in accordance with the disclosure thereof in the accompanying drawings, from which it will be observed that a flexible element of suitable length, preferably a dainty but strong chain, has its end portions adapted to be transformed into loops, one of which is adapted to encircle the wrist of the wearer as a kind of a noose, and the other one of which is adapted to be formed into a suitable loop and attached to the carrying handle of a handbag.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on appropriate loop forming and maintaining and securing means at the respective ends of the stated chain. This means has to do with a fastener on each end of the chain, a link which is adapted to be releasably coupled or clasped on the fastener, said link being pivotally mounted on a sleeve and said sleeve slidably mounted on the chain.

In carrying out the preferred style or form of the overall accessory, I provide an ornamental flexible chain having an ornamental fastener pivotally joined to each end of the chain, said chain being of a length such that either or both end portions may be wrapped around the wearers wrist to function as a bracelet, sleeves slidingly mounted on said chain, and an endless link pivotally attached to each sleeve, and wherein each sleeve has curved turned-in spring fingers at its respective ends, said fingers arranged to yieldingly and frictionally engage the chain links, whereby to facilitate slidable adjusting and optional retention of the sleeve at any desired plate along the length of the chain.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the novelly improved multipurpose costume accessory constituting the subject matter of the invention and showing the manner in which a handbag may be safely chained to the wearers wrist;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the chain twice wrapped around the wrist of the wearer with the respective ends fastened together and functioning as a sort of an ornamental bracelet;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the over-all article and the details embodied therein;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one end portion, the left hand end portion based on Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Patented Jan. 29, 1957 Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified ornament, a ball substituted for the anchor shown in the other views.

The flexible element, which may be a strap, woven cord, band or the like, is preferably a dainty link-style chain 8 of appropriate length, for example, of a length to permit it to be used in the fashion or manner shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the handbag is denoted by the letter A having a carrying handle B, and the chain is adapted to be connected at one end to the handle and at the opposite end, it is adapted to surround and anchor itself on the wrist C of the wearer as though it were a noose. It follows that the chain is: of suitable length, strength and appropriate ornamentality to servelthis primary handbag anchoring function. As before stated, there is an ornamental fastener at the respective ends of the chain, and in the preferred embodiment, the fastener takes the form of an anchor wherein the one at the left in Figure 3 is denoted by the nluneral 10, and the one at the right in the same figure by the numeral 12. Actually, however, each anchor-type fastener is the same in constructiomand the description of one will suffice for both. To this end, the shank is denoted at 12, the cross-head at 14, and the fixed eye at 16 to which the endmost link 18 of the chain is connected. The hook-like arm portions are denoted by the numerals 2fl--2(l, and these terminate in bill portions 22 providing suitable keeper means for the attachable and detachable keeper link or clasp 24. The latter, in Figures 3, 4 and 5, is shown to be of endless rectangular form and the opening therein is of suificient size that the hooked arms of the anchor may be suitably angled and slipped through the opening, and then, the anchor turned at a suitable angle to separably couple the links 24 to the anchor 10. The link is pivoted to an eye 26 forming an addenda on an intermediate portion of a slidingly mounted friction retainer-sleeve 28. The latter slidingly embraces the links of the chain and has its end portions slitted and then turned in toward each other to define curvate resilient retaining fingers 3030. The fingers are of such spring tension that they serve to frictionally grip the links so that it is possible to hold the sleeve 28 in any set position. The sleeve will not, of its own accord, slide, but it can be forcibly slid by applying pressure thereto with the human fingers, in an obvious manner. That portion of the chain between the sleeve and the anchor fastener serves when the anchor and clasp are joined to define a loop, this at either end of the chain, as is obvious. One loop encircles the wrist to form an attaching noose, and the other loop attaches to the carrying handle of the bag to form an anchoring noose, all as brought out in Figure 1. As already stated, the device can be used in its principal capacity as illustrated in Figure l, or it can be employed as a simple ornamental bracelet of a double wrap-around type, as shown, for example, in Figure 2, and wherein the end portions of the chain are looped and fastened in the manner disclosed. The ball and chain idea is carried out in Figure 6, wherein the chain 8 is the same, the endmost link 32 being attached at 34 to a ball fastener 36. Here, the endless link 38 is of general ovate outline or form, and it is attached to an eye 40 on the aforementioned sleeve 28. The elongate opening 42 provides a suitable crotch 44 to accommodate the ball and chain and to provide the desired coupling action.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since invention to the exact construction shown and described,

and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multipurpose costume accessory for personal wear and adornment comprising a flexible element adapted to encircle the Wearers wrist in whole or in part, an ornamental fastener fixedly secured to at least one end of: said flexible element, a clasp releasably connectable with said fastener, a sleeve slidingly mounted on said flexible element, said clasp being pivotally connected with said sleeve, and means at the other end of said flexible element whereby the latter end may be detachably connected with a purse, handbag or the like, said means serving to permit said other end to be formed into a fettering loop and comprising a terminal fastener fixedly secured to the adjacent end of the flexible element and a complemental clasp releasably connectable with said terminal fastener.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said ornamental fastener is in the form of a miniature anchor, 20

t 4 and said clasp is an endless loop member which is releasably connectable with said ornamental fastener.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said flexible element is a chain, said fastener embodying a ball attached to the end of the chain, and said clasp is an endless loop member which is sized to releasably couple itself to said ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Jan. 5, 1934 

